Abstract: Relevant concepts, basin management plans and main contents of the 2000 EU Water Framework Directive are outlined, with current ecological and chemical status of surface water bodies in the EU analyzed． Until the end of 2021, 36.5% of surface water bodies in the EU reached ecologically good or excellent conditions, 30.3% of river lengths reached good or excellent conditions． About 29.3% of surface water bodies are in good chemical condition． These data highlight the long-term and complex nature of water governance． Main inspirations that could be drawn from the EU directive are as follows． Ecological monitoring system needs to be strengthened, appropriate biodiversity indicators could be added． Standards and targets need to be dynamically adjusted, pollutant restrictions need to be tightened in stages． Watershed must be managed as a unit, various regions and departments should coordinate to gradually promote the construction of green river basins．